Safety On The Hills

Personal Equipment

All participants on club walks must be properly equipped. This is in the interests of your own safety. The first and probably the most important item of personal equipment is a proper pair of hillwalking boots. These need not be very expensive but must give adequate ankle support, have proper cleated soles and be reasonably waterproof.

A waterproof jacket, rucksack, adequate food, a hot drink, hat and gloves are the basics of equipment on the mountain. Avoid denim jeans, when wet they are cold and uncomfortable. A change of clothes at the end of the day may seem obvious but many new members don't think of them.Please remember the rule: no boots, no walk.View LIST FOR PACKING HAVER SACK

Emergency Proceedures When Hillwalking

Some guidelines on what to do when things go wrong while out hillwalking. STOP and THINK

If you are lost, try to work out where you are on the map – take your time and don't panic as this will affect your judgment.

If you need to cut your walk short, take time to plan a safe way down.

If your problem occurs late in the day it may be unwise to continue and you may be forced to stay out for the night.

Emergency Bivouacs:

Seek shelter – often nearby there will be sheltered spots.

Keep warm –put on all spare clothing before you get too cold and
insulate from the ground. Get into the bivvi bag, and get everyone to
huddle together for warmth.

Share out food and drinks throughout the night and try to keep morale up.

In the case of an accident:

Look after the victim first, administering First Aid if necessary and keeping victim as warm and dry as you can.

Assess if you can handle the problem yourselves of if you need help.

If you can manage without help, take time to plan a safe route down and take your time in getting there to avoid further accident.

If you need help plan the next steps carefully:

Decide on exact plan for getting help, stick to this as far as possible.- who will stay with the victim- best place to go to report accident and safest route

Write down the information you wish to give to rescue team: -exact location, time of accident, injuries sustained, name of victim/s and person/s with them.

When you reach a telephone or an area with mobile coverage dial 999 or 112 and ask for Mountain Rescue. Pass on information carefully and stay there until help arrives.

STOP AND THINKRemember that in the case of an accident people get confused and panicked so it is important to STOP and THINK. Carefully plan what steps you will take. Write down essential information as in the confusion vital facts can be forgotten.ALL RESCUE TAKES TIME!Distress SignalsThe internationally recognized signal is six blasts of a whistle (or flashes of a torch) followed by one minute's silence. This sequence is repeated. The answer is three blasts or flashes followed by one minute's silence. This sequence is repeated.